Buckle key chain



Aug. 13, 1963 L5 2/ 5 27 pg 25 20 A. E. GOLDFARB BUCKLE KEY CHAIN Filed July 24, 1961 INVENTOR. IQMZPA GUM/549 5 QTTOIQ/VEW United States Patent 3,108,608 BUCKLE KEY CHAIN Adolph E. Goldfarb, 7427 Vania St, North Hollywood, Calif. Filed July 24, 1961, Ser. No. 126,311 1 Claim. (Cl. 242-96) The herein invention relates to a novel buckle key chain designed primarily for children and having a springlbiase'd automatic return of a cable supporting a key ring. A particular feature of the invention is a releasable locking means for releasably locking the cable in any desired extended position. The locking means is releasable tor releasing the cable tor automatic rewind.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy of the type referred to above, particularly characterized in that it provides tor entertaining manipulations of the key and key ring, the automatic return means and the locking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a (toy as in the foregoing object having improvements consisting in a novel and original locking means for the automatic return for locking it in any desired position.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will becomes apparent from the tollowing detailed description, claim and annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts shown in exploded relationship;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view as taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a detail of the spring mount- FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the releasable locking means in greater detail;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a portion of the spring housing.

The device, generally indicated by the numeral 10, includes a housing 11 having a general configuration re sembling a buckle and including "a pair of end loops 12 and 13 through which a belt may be extended for supporting the housing 11. The housing 11 includes a centrally located spring housing 14 in which a reel 15 is rotatably disposed for rotation about a central post 16 ot' the housing 14. The reel 15 includes an inner ratchet disc 17 and an outer closure disc 18 between which a flat, coiled spring 19 is disposed.

The spring '19 includes one end 20 secured in a transverse slot 21 of an annular boss 22 integral with the disc 17 and an opposite end 23 secured as in a transverse slot 24 of the post 16. A plurality of pins 25 are formed on the annular boss 22 and extend into an equal plurality of apertures 26 formed in the disc 18, the pins 25 being cemented or otherwise secured in the apertures 26 for permanent securement of the disc 18 into the disc 17 The disc 18 includes a plurality of radial webs 27 which guide a cable 28 into coplanar winding as indicated at 29 in FIG. 2. The cable 28 is preferably a nylon cord which is heated at one end 30 to term an enlarged bulb at the end and inserted in an aperture 3-1 of the annular boss 22 to anchor the end 30 therein. The cable 28 is wrapped around the annular boss 22 and extends outwardly through a transverse slot 32 of the spring housing 14 and has its opposite end 33 secured in a key ring clasp 34. The end 33 is heated, similarly to the end 30 to term an enlarged bulb end for securing the end 33 to the clasp 34. The clasp 34 includes a first channel 36 in which one end 37 of the key ice ring 38 is pivotally anchored and a second socket 39 in which a (free end 41 of the key ring 38 is removably retained. The end 41 may be inwardly biased against the inherent spring construction of the ring 38 to remove the end [from the channel 39 for additional removal of keys like 42. The entire key ring 38 may be pivoted on the axis of the end 37 within its channel 36, which is believed to be unique. An outer cap member 43 is telescopingly mounted over the spring housing 14 and has a plurality of pins 44 insertable and cementable in an equal plurality of apertures 45. The exterior of the cap 43 may be in the form as illustrated, suggesting a sherifis badge or as an alternate, the form of a modern police badge.

Alocking means 46 (see FIG. 5) includes a movable pawl 47 pivotally secured as at 48 to the back side of the housing 11 and engageable with the ratchet teeth 49 of the disc 17 to prevent rotation thereof.

With the pawl 47 disengaged from the ratchet teeth 49, the cable 28 may be unwound trom the spring housing 14 to extend the key ring, such action causing the spring 19 to be wound and placed under tension. The key ring 38 is automatically biased inwardly of the spring housing towards the buckle 10 and the cable 28 to be retrieved into the spring housing 14 but may be locked by engagement of the pawl 47 with the ratchet teeth 49.

Additional decorations may be provided on the exterior of the housing 11 such as simulated bullets 50 formed integrally with the housing and having simulated retainer clips 51 secura'ble in slots like slots 52. :T he purpose of having a separate clip 51 is to provide a different finish on the bullet 50 and the clip '51, the clip 51 being finished in a saddle leather color while the bullets 50 are metal coated by a vacuum process.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the invention provides a device which achieves and realizes the objectives as stated in the foregoing. It provides a simplified but entertaining toy which has practical utility and considerable appeal for its purpose.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and it is intended that it be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

In combination, means comprising a belt buckle of a generally rectangular shape and having a circular housing formed therein spaced from the ends of the buckle and from the plane of the rear thereof; .a rotatable reel mounted in said housing, spring means for rotating the reel in one direction, a cord mounted on the reel and having an end extending from the housing through an aperture therein and having a key ring attached thereto whereby the cord may be withdrawn from the housing by rotating the said reel in a manner to wind up the said spring, pawl and ratchet means including a manually actuated pawl for stopping the winding up operation of said reel in any desired position, and said manually actueted pawl having a lever part mounted on the lower part of said buckle adjacent to the position in which the said cord extends from the housing, said housing presenting a circular conformation at the front of the buckle adapted to receive a circular cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

